The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-06

"You will see when we get to. Prin- cess street."
 "Where is that street?"
 "But few steps from the Odeon and Saint Sulpice! We shall soon be there."
 "And what shall see on Princess street?"
 "Nothing perhaps - to-day, at least, but you will find proofs there, just as I did"
 "Proofs that Achille is deceiving mel"
 "Proofs that Achille-that MT. Launoy is deceiving you"
 "Well, really, I am curious to see those proofs. And, perhaps, on sec ing I will put no faith in them! Be- cause it is not possible-why, Achille adores me-"
 "Oh, pshaw! You are foolishly blind. When tell you"
 "First say what do you tell me-"
 "That's so. 1 haven't divulged the secret to you yet. Well, here are the facts: First, you must know that Annette-you remember Annette, don't you?"
 "One of your former chamber maids?"
 Exactly, Well, Annette wrote to me three days ago that she had lost her place, and that she was seriously i'll. She gave me her address, No. 37 Princess street. Wishing to assure myself of the truth of the statement, l went yesterday to the given address, and found that Annette's condition was just as she had said"
 "What next, maman; what next?"
 "I am getting to it, Valentine" con- tinued Mime. Martellier, looking out through the carriage window.
 "We shall soon reach Princess street, because we are now crossing the Boulevard St. Germain. We'll, just as l was leaving Annette's, saw, en- tering the house opposite, No. 3s, a gentleman who, from behind, resem- bled your husband very closely"
 "Probably he went into that house on business"
 "Wait while! Of course there would be nothing strange in Mir. Launoy's knowing somebody in that house. But, Valentine, you must know that a mothers heart always has misgivings, and something seemed to tell me that I was on the trail of a mystery, and when your husband, for it was really he, disappeared in the stairway, l could not help crossing over and entering the house."
 And then?"
 "The doorkeeper's box is on the left-hand side, going in. A woman was in it. Excuse me, madam,' said |; but will you tell me if you know the gentleman who has just passed in? l would like to find out whether I am mistaken And I carelesslv took a five-f franc coin from my purse. On seeing this the concierge beamed her most gracious smiles upon me.
 "'Of course I know him. said she. 1t is Mir. Achille, one of our ten- ants
 "'Mr. Achille-who?'
 "l only know him by his given name, madam. He inhabits a room on the first floor, which he rents from Mime. Marin, the seamstress, who leases the whole floor. He doesn't sleep there. He only comes daily at o'clock, and remains few minutes. But, without being too inquisitive, madam, may ask why you inquire about Mir. Achille?'
 "To this question I gave an evasive answer, and not wishing to inquire further for fear of arousing the sus- picions of the concierge, I gave her the five francs and withdrew. Now, will you accuse me of slandering your husband?"
 Overwhelmed with grief, Valentine, after moment of silence, replied:
 "Yes, indeed-you must be right. '"
 And then she added, as if against her will:
 "And yet, if in all this there was something else instead of treachery? Why did you not ask that woman what kind of people my husband re- ceived in that room?"
 "Why, have just told you that did not want to arouse her suspicious, so as to make her talk all the more to-day"
 "Yes-that's so-you did right. Is that internal street still far?"
 Just then the hack came to a stop.
 "Here we are before the house" said Mime. Martellier.
 "Very we'll! Let me get out alone. It is best that the concierge should not see you at first. By the bye, what time is it?"
 Mime. Martellier looked at her watch.
 | "Three o'clock p
 "Oh, then, there is no danger of meeting my husband!"
 Valentine opened the hack door, got down and boldly entered the gate. l Mnaa Martallia,.